Posted by AzBlueMeanie:
A brief moment of sanity in Arizona? Could it possibly be true? The Arizona Senate today voted down the "Baby Blunt" bill to allow any employer to object to insurance coverage for contraception on religious or moral grounds. Arizona Senate votes down controversial contraception bill:
The Arizona Senate on Wednesday voted down a controversial bill to allow employers and insurance companies to opt out of covering contraception for religious reasons.
The bill failed in the Senate on a 13-17 vote, but House Bill 2625 is not dead. Sen. Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, who championed the measure in that chamber, said she will bring it back for a revote this session.
The amended version allows employers and insurance companies to opt out of covering contraception for religious reasons. They still must cover any contraception prescribed for reasons other than to prevent pregnancy or cause an abortion. In such cases, the patient would cover the cost and then submit a request for reimbursement to the insurance company.
The bill clarifies that the legislation does not give an employer acess to an employee's "protected health information" or violate federal HIPAA regulations.
Despite the amendment, the Senate voted down the bill 13-17.
At the Capitol, protesters held signs saying, "You employ me you don't own me," "Stop the war on women," and "Attention 2012 candidates — I'm watching. And I will vote."
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At a news conference, Democratic lawmakers ripped the bill, saying it's an example of an "extremist agenda" that is attempting to take over the Legislature in recent years. The lawmakers accused conservative Republicans of trying to "move Arizona backwards."
"This is about imposing beliefs on other people," said Rep. Chad Campbell, D-Phoenix, adding the bill is a war on all people's rights. "The question is: If you start to attack people's rights in their workplace … their relationship with their doctors, what is next and where do we stop?"
Note: Sen. Nancy Barto voted "no" to preserve her right to bring up the bill for reconsideration.
HOW THEY VOTED:
| Member Name | Vote | Member Name | Vote | Member Name | Vote |
| Paula Aboud | N | Sylvia Allen | Y | Frank Antenori | Y |
| Nancy Barto | N | Andy Biggs | Y | Judy Burges | Y |
| Olivia Cajero Bedford | N | Rich Crandall | N | Adam Driggs | N |
| Steve Gallardo | N | Ron Gould | Y | Linda Gray | Y |
| Gail Griffin | Y | Jack Jackson Jr. | N | Lori Klein | Y |
| Leah Landrum Taylor | N | Jerry Lewis | N | Linda Lopez | N |
| David Lujan | N | John McComish | N | Al Melvin | Y |
| Robert Meza | N | Rick Murphy | Y | John Nelson | N |
| Michele Reagan | N | David Schapira | N | Don Shooter | Y |
| Steve Smith | Y | Steve Yarbrough | Y | Steve Pierce | N |
AYES: 13 NAYS: 17 NOT VOTING: 0 EXCUSED: 0 VACANT: 0
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